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Grammar detail: ことができる

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JLPT:
ことができる - can do
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verb plain form
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ことができる
or the more polite
ことができます
expresses the idea that you are able to do something.
DETAILS
にほんご
日本語
を
はな
話
すことができますか。
Can you speak Japanese?
This construction is essentially the same as the potential form of a verb. This construction is often taught before the potential because it is simpler to use - just add ことができる to the dictionary form of any verb.
ことができる form verb potential form meaning
い
行
くことができる
い
行
ける		 I can go
た
食
べることができます
た
食
べられます		 I can eat (it)
Although most native speakers consider the expressions equivalent, some describe a subtle difference between the two forms (see the link below for a discussion).
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See also:
  • verb potential form - ability to do
More information / references:
  • https://japanese.stackexchange.com/questions/2689/ことができる-versus-vえる-form ⇗

Kanji used in this grammar

行
コウ   ギョウ   アン   ゆく    いく to go   おこなう to take place   
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1
食
ショク   ジキ    food   たべる to eat   くう to eat   
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1
日
ニチ   ジツ   sun; day   ひ    -か    
1
本
ホン   book   もと origin   
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1
語
ゴ   かたる to talk, relate   かたらう to talk together, chat   
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1
話
ワ   はなす to talk   はなし talking   
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1
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